Biography
Practicing law in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Cezar Aragão has taken part in many of the most important M&A transactions in Brazil in recent years. He is a partner of Barbosa Müssnich Aragão – a 300+ lawyer firm of which more than 1/3 of the partners and almost 50% of the lawyers are women. He heads the firm’s office in São Paulo. He was General Counsel of Brazil’s securities regulator, the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários. He has lectured widely on corporate law and M&A in recent years, and has published various articles on those subjects.
Paulo Cezar Aragão professional and non-profit activities include: Managing Partner, GP Investimentos (1994–1997). Vice-Chair, Market Arbitration Chamber, B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcão, Brazil’s stock exchange. Member, Capital Markets Advisory Committee, International Accounting Standards Board (2013-2019 and 2023- ). Chairman, Advisory Council, Antônio and Helena Zerrenner Foundation – National Charitable Institution. Member (2002-2022), Board of Directors, Instituto Empreender Endeavor Brasil, a non profit organization promoting entrepreneurship in Brazil. Member, Board of Governors, Fundação Estudar (2010-2022), a non-profit organization promoting education and leadership for young people. Member, Board of Directors, São Paulo Symphonic Orchestra – OSESP. Member, Board of Directors (2016-2019), São Paulo Museum of Art – MASP. Member and former director of the Brazilian Bar Institute – IAB. Member, Brazilian Financial Law Association – ABDF. Former General Counsel and Director of the American Chamber of Commerce. Roster of Arbitrators, Business Mediation and Arbitration Chamber – CAMARB. Roster of Arbitrators, Mediation and Arbitration Center, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in Brazil.
He is frequently recommended in the Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets sections of publications like Chambers Latin America, Chambers Global, Latin Lawyer, IFLR 1000, Who’s Who Legal, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers, of which he is member of the Advisory Board. For more than twelve years, Paulo has been the only lawyer named as a “star individual” in Corporate/M&A in Brazil by Chambers Global and Chambers Latin. In recent years Paulo has also been recognized as LACCA Approved Counsel (The Latin American Corporate Counsel Association), and as a thought leader in Corporate/M&A in Brazil.
He has received several accolades, like the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award granted by Latin Lawyer, the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award granted by Chambers Latin America and the 2022 Lawyer of the Year M&A Award granted by Who is Who in the Law.